The Fannin High School volleyball teams hosted the Bulldogs of Murphy High School, (N.C.). Fannin fell to Murphy in two sets, on a night that honored the three senior members of the First year Fannin volleyball program: Mallory Arp, Sara Dobbins, and Lindsey Wright. The night was full of Fannin emotions, as shortly before the senior ceremony, fallen Fannin High School student, Dakota Leach, was honored, following a rousing Rebels rendition of the national anthem by Logan O’ Neal.The evening began with a match up between the each team’s junior varsity squad. The Lady Rebels bit the Bulldogs with an early 2-0 lead; courtesy of an ace from Courtney Eggleston, and a kill by Blair Stuart.

Mallory Arp (#14) with Angie Arp (Mother)
(Photo by LT Melton)

Murphy answered quickly, with a Hannah Carson kill. Wright righted the Rebel’s ship with a kill to put Fannin up 3-1. An out of bounds on the home team followed by an ace from Carson tied the game at 3-3.

The Lady Rebels rebelled against the North Carolina neighbors with two unanswered points, including an ace from Wright. The two teams traded out of bounds points to make the score 6-4.

The teams continued to trade points eventually leading to a 9-9 tie. The visitors then began to pull away scoring six straight points before Fannin could stop the bleeding. Fannin would finally fall 25-12 having been outscored 16-3 since the 9-9 tie, allowing Murphy to take a 1-0 lead in the best of three series.

In game two, the Bulldogs bit early, running out to an 8-1 lead before the home team scored its second point. When Murphy marched to an 11-2 lead, resulting in a Fannin time out.

The Lady Rebels came out of the time out and scored three straight points, making the score 11-5. The Bulldogs answered back with a 7- 2 run, that kept them in front 16-7.

Sara Dobbins (#11) with Robert Dobbins (Father)
(Photo by LT Melton)

The Lady Rebels returned Fannin fire with a 6-1 run; however, the home team never got closer than 17-12, eventually falling 25-15, allowing Murphy to claim a 2-0 victory.

The varsity game began shortly after the aforementioned senior ceremony. After both teams traded points via out of bounds, the visitors went on a 4-1 run, with two straight kills by Jordan Lovingood, and two straight aces from Jackie Parks. The Lady Rebels scored once more before another Bulldog run made the score 11-2.

The Lady Rebels scored a third point via an out of bounds on Murphy. Following a trading of points from the squads, Dobbins scored on a dig for a kill, making the score 12-6.

The Bulldogs remained relentless, despite Hope Cochran continuous blocking at the net. Murphy managed to hold Fannin to 11 points en route to a 25-11 game one victory.

The Lady Rebels drew first blood in game two with a Hope Cochran block for a kill. However, Fannin fell behind quickly, 9-2, before a Lady Rebels time out.

Lindsey Wright (#24) with Jim Wright (R, Father) and Lorraine Wright (L, Mother)
Photo by LT Melton

Coming out of the time out, the Lady Rebels scored immediately; however, five unanswered points later Fannin was down 14-3. The Lady Rebels rebounded with three straight points, including two straight aces from O’Neal, that made the score 14-6.

The two teams traded points back and forth via out of bounds and serves into the net until the score was 17-10. The visitors then went on a game closing 8-4 run, to take the game 25-14 and the series 2-0.